ABCs of Success

As an elementary school teacher we do something called bell work, everyday, first thing in the morning after the bell.

I’ve worked across different grade levels from first grade to seventh grade. One bell work activity that I’ve found is accessible to students of all ages is the ABC’s.

Alphabet knowledge is foundational knowledge. Once the students know those twenty six letters in their assigned order, then they can learn the sounds and begin making and breaking apart words. This is an extremely important skill. When students know all the sounds, they can start blending and learn more about tricky patterns while spelling and reading.

It is at this point students begin to gain confidence in writing their own words, stories, poems and books.

The bell work assignment is appropriately titled, “The ABCs of Whatever.”

I ask students to talk at their tables or talk with a partner about things they like. Sometimes I list their topics on the board, depending on the skills and ages of the students.

Then I have the students pick a topic. The assignment is to write “the ABC’s of whatever” they want. Finding a word related to their chosen topic for each letter of the alphabet.

For example of a student really likes dinosaurs the student can write the ABC’s of Dinosaurs. Starting with the letter…

Aa, Ankylosaurus

Bb, Brachiosaurus

Cc, Conchoraptor

Dd, Dilophosaurus

Ee, I don’t know a dinosaur that starts with E and maybe the students won’t either, but you get the picture.

Since you’re allowed to leave what you need to blank, it’s really all fun. Students are also allowed to add as many words to one letter as they’d like. Students just have to stay on the same topic, that’s the objective and fun.

The ABC’s of whatever they know a lot about, whatever they feel comfortable with, or really, whatever they like. I get students thinking and this activity gets students writing. It’s a great way to have them show what they know and recall vocabulary.

Sometimes in my classroom I do the exercise with students. A few weeks ago I found this piece I wrote called the ABC’s of Success circa 2018-2019 school year.

Accountability, attitude, action

Balance, belief, boldness, blessings

Creativity, commitment, consistency, character

Dreams, duplication

Endurance, entrepreneurship

Forward, future, fail forward, freedom

Growth, generosity

Hope, help

Integrity, independence, invest

Jovial, joy

Kindness

Loyalty, leverage, live

Mentorship

Nurturing, need

Opportunity, overcome

Perseverance, positivity, partnership, persistent, purpose, plan

Quest

Resilience, read, reward

Security, system, submission, spoken word

Together, transparent

Understanding, unity

Value, volume, vision

Win, wisdom, why

X-factor, execution

Yearning

Zeal

Now go out and be successful